UT’s Ash: ‘I want to play, so I’m going to.’

After a disappointing 8-5 season, Texas will try to regain Big 12 confidence with new head coach Charlie Strong leading the program. Here is the Longhorn's 12-game schedule for the regular season.

After a disappointing 8-5 season, Texas will try to regain Big 12 confidence with new head coach Charlie Strong leading the program. Here is the Longhorn's 12-game schedule for the regular season.

Photo: Erich Schlegel / Getty Images

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Aug. 30 - North Texas at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Aug. 30 - North Texas at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Photo: Mike Stone / Associated Press

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Sept. 6 - BYU at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Sept. 6 - BYU at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Photo: Cathleen Allison / Associated Press

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Sept. 13 - UCLA at AT&T Stadium, Arlington. Time - TBA

Sept. 13 - UCLA at AT&T Stadium, Arlington. Time - TBA

Photo: Victor Calzada / Associated Press

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Sept. 27 - Kansas at Lawrence, Kan. Time - TBA

Sept. 27 - Kansas at Lawrence, Kan. Time - TBA

Photo: Orlin Wagner / Associated Press

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Oct. 4 - Baylor at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Oct. 4 - Baylor at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

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Oct. 11 - Oklahoma at Cotton Bowl. Time - TBA

Oct. 11 - Oklahoma at Cotton Bowl. Time - TBA

Photo: Sean Gardner / Getty Images

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Oct. 18 - Iowa State at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Oct. 18 - Iowa State at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time - TBA

Photo: David Purdy / Getty Images

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Oct. 25 - Kansas State at Manhattan, Kan. Time - TBA

Oct. 25 - Kansas State at Manhattan, Kan. Time - TBA

Photo: Orlin Wagner / Associated Press

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Nov. 1 - Texas Tech at Lubbock. Time -TBA

Nov. 1 - Texas Tech at Lubbock. Time -TBA

Photo: Donald Miralle / Getty Images

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Nov. 8 - West Virginia at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time -TBA

Nov. 8 - West Virginia at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time -TBA

Photo: Rod Aydelotte / Associated Press

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Nov. 15 - Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla. Time -TBA

Nov. 15 - Oklahoma State at Stillwater, Okla. Time -TBA

Photo: Brandon Wade / Associated Press

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Nov. 27 - TCU at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time -TBA

Nov. 27 - TCU at Darrell K. Royal Stadium. Time -TBA

Photo: LM Otero / Associated Press

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UT's Ash: 'I want to play, so I'm going to.'

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AUSTIN — Since the last time Texas quarterback David Ash spoke to the media, he suffered a concussion in a blowout loss at BYU last September, was knocked out of another game with lingering head-injury symptoms two weeks later, missed the rest of the season, then underwent surgery to repair a broken foot last spring.

But when preseason camp began on Monday, Ash was back on the field as the Longhorns’ starting quarterback. After practice, he walked into a room full of media and asked, “Did you miss me?”

Here’s a quick rundown of what he said in his first interview in almost 11 months:

On the last year as a whole: “Nothing’s guaranteed. I sure learned that.”

On unsolicited advice: “A lot of people told me, ‘You need to give it up, you need to quit.’ Honestly, I never really thought about that.”

On having to convince his mother he could play football again: “We had a few talks. Can you blame her. But I want to play, so I’m gong to.”

On whether he’s recovered from his head injury: “I’m better now. As you can see, I’m sharp as a tack.”

On whether he’s looking forward to taking his first hit again: “Oh yeah, bring it on.”

On the difficulty of watching his team play without him, particularly when it’s due to a concussion: “It’s hard. Nobody sees a cast. Nobody knows what’s going on.”

On breaking his foot upon his return from the concussion: “I thought I was off the struggle bus, but I hopped right back on. I’ll get off eventually.”

On coach Charlie Strong’s asking him what he was trying to prove by trying to run people over: “Sometimes you’re just trying to get that mojo going. But there’s other ways. … I’m going to start being smarter.”

On why he doesn’t want to talk about expectations for this season: “If you’re always looking to the future, you’re not living in the now. If you’re not living in the now, you’re not taking care of business.”